Shift-key mechanism for type-writing machines



PATENTED FEB. 9, 1904.

E. H. WADEWITZ.

SHIFT KEY MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented Februar 5), 191.34;

PATENT OFFICE.

SHIFT-KEY MECHANISM FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 751 ,578, dated February 9, 1904.

Application filed April 6, 1903. Serial No. 151,383. (No model.)

and use with various makes of type-writing machines for the purpose of enabling a writer to shift the platen without withdrawing the hands or either of them from the keyboard or interrupting the writing. Various devices have been heretofore produced with a view to accomplishing a similar purpose, all of which devices while possessing certain desirable fea tures, lack the novel features and advantages which characterize my improvement.

My invention will be understood by considering the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the various figures. I

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in front elevation showing my invention in position of use attached to a type-writer stand. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the device, showing in detail the construction and arrangement of the parts; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end view of the device looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a base-plate to be secured to the under side of a type-writer table or stand B and provided at one end with lugs (0. Between lugs a is pivoted an operating-lever C, to the free end of which is adjustably attached a connectingrod 0, provided at its upper end with a hook or other suitable means to engage the type writer shift-key lever D. The lower end of rod 0 is threaded and passing through a hole in lever C is secured by lock-nut 0 after suitable adjustment.

A rocking lever E is adjustably mounted on lever C by means of a strap or saddle e,

which, passing over said lever C, extends downwardly in the form of lugs e, to which the end of lever E is riveted or bolted. Below the securing rivet or bolt e lugs e are extended and bent slightly, as at 6 to press against lever E and form a spring engagement to hold said lever in its operative position. The pivoted end of rocking lever E is provided with a cam-surface c facing away from the pivoted end of lever C, the proportions being such that when lever E is in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 it will not be in contact with lever C, and the saddle 0 may therefore be moved along lever C for adjustment; but when lever E is caused to take the vertical or operative position shown in whole lines in said figure the cam-surface is brought into locked engagement with lever C, in which position the parts are held by the pressure of spring-lugs e Farther movement in the same direction is prevented by point e of lever E.

The device above described is actuated by pressure of the knee of the machine operator against rocking lever E, thereby rocking the lever C to depress shift-key lever D and shift the platen. Both hands are thus left free to manipulate the keys for writing. hen the pressure of the operators knee is released, the parts are returned to their original positions by the spring of the shift-key, which may be reinforced by spring a.

The advantages of the above construction are at once apparent. The parts may be readily folded into the smallest space possible for shipment and easily set up and attached to nearly every make of type-writer now in use. The position of the rocking lever may be readily changed and adjusted along the lever C to suit the requirements of several operators of the same machine, and when so adjusted the parts are automatically held in the adjusted position. Also it is practically impossible for the parts to become loosened or out of adjustment during use, as the pressure of the knee against rocking lever E is in a direction to cause the parts to become more tightly locked.

It will be understood that while I have described a specific embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself or the scope of the invention to that precise construction, as many changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and these I wish it to be understood fall strictly within the scope and purview thereof.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a device of the character described, means for attachment to a type-writer support, an operating-lever pivotally connected thereto, a rod to connect said operating-lever to the type-writer shift-key lever, a rocking lever having an adjustable sliding connection with said operating-lever, and means for securing the parts in the adjusted position.

2. In a device of the character described, means for attachment to a type-writer support, an operating-lever pivotally connected thereto, a rod to connect said operating-lever to the type-writer shift-key lever, a rocking lever having an adjustable connection with said operating-lever, and means whereby said rocking lever is automatically looked upon said operating-lever when thrown into an operative position.

3. In a device of the character described, means for attachment to a type-writer support, an operating-lever pivotally connected thereto, a rod to connect said operating-lever to the type-writer shift-key lever, a saddle slidingly mounted upon said operating-lever and carrying a pivoted rocking lever, said saddle being slidable along said operatinglever when said rocking lever is in a raised position, but locked when said rocking lever is in its operative position.

4. In a device of the character described, means for attachment to a type-Writer support, an operating-lever pivotally connected thereto, a rod to connect said operating-lever to the type-writer shift-key lever, a saddle slidingly mounted upon said operating-lever and carrying a pivoted rocking lever, said saddle having spring-lug extensions to engage said rocking lever in its operative position.

5. In combination with a type-writing machine and support, a shift-key mechanism comprising an operating-lever pivotally connected to said support, a rod to connect said operating-lever with the shift-key lever of the machine, a rocking lever designed to be actuated by pressure of the knee of an operator, and means adjustable along said operating-lever for locking said rocking lever in an oper- EDWARD H. WVADEWITZ.

WVitnesses:

CLARENCE W. GRATZ, THOMAS P. HARDY. 

